Love in a Time of Homeschooling by Laura Brodie

Ok, you can quit reading my blog now, and just go get the book "Love in a Time of Homeschooling:  A Mother and Daughter's Uncommon Year", by Laura Brodie.   Her book covers much of what I would ever want to say!  The biggest difference between us is that she is a Smarty Pants.  She has an undergraduate degree from Harvard and a PhD from the University of Virginia.  She teaches at Washington and Lee University, and her husband is the band director at the Virginia Military Institute.   When considering her eldest daughter's unique abilities and struggles within the traditional school setting, she decided to embark on a one-year sabbatical and home school her during that time. 

From Amazon.com:  "The more I looked into it, the more I discovered that short-term homeschooling is a growing trend in America, for a vast array of reasons." Chronicling the entirety of her homeschooling experience, from the decision-making process to Julia's successful re-entry into 6th grade, Brodie takes pains to show how difficult homeschooling can be: "How foolish I had been, to have believed that Julia's complaints over the past two years... stemmed from an institutional cause" (as it turns out, Julia simply doesn't like to be told what to do). Having been frustrated by other homeschooling books' Pollyanna attitude toward the parent-child relationship, Brodie's contribution to the field is full of honest revelations that make it vital for anyone considering homeschooling; happily, her gift for good storytelling and keen observation (of herself and others) make this an absorbing read for everyone else.

The book inspired me, challenged me, and ultimately helped me to feel like I had a daily companion in the sometimes lonely world of homeschooling.   Sacrifices create an opportunity to home school, yet for the parent, this means giving up many freedoms.  It doesn't work for everyone.  In the end, I believe I will feel it is all worth it, and Laura Brodie shares these sentiments.

Making Stock

My 11 year old son desperately wanted to make chicken stock this morning. 
In fact, he was begging.  Maybe it was an attempt to get out of doing his math problems.  But whatever the case may be, I just couldn't say no. 
We plunged in to that carcass.  Actually we had two wonderful chicken carcasses from the evening before, when we had friends over for dinner.  Together we pulled most of the meat from the carcass, set it aside, roughly chopped up carrots, celery and onion and threw it all into the biggest pot we own.  Simmering now since morning, the whole house is filled with the aroma.  My son walks through the kitchen as though he is in a trance, hypnotized by the swirls of fragrance filling the kitchen and spilling out into the rest of the house.
I'm supposed to be cleaning my house, making some phone calls, and pushing through our academics, but I just can't stop thinking about this soup.  Probably because with each and every inhale, I'm reminded of it cooking over there on the stove-top.
The stock will simmer all day; this afternoon we will strain it and then make a delicious chicken noodle soup. 
And my son will be licking his bowl, I guarantee it!

Limit Reached!

Yikes!  We went to the library today, and I had maxed out my card!  I felt like a shopper denied use of my credit card!
Now let it be known that our library allows 100 items checked out on a card.
I never really thought I'd have THAT many items checked out at once.
But, with a family of five....and now I'm homeschooling and using the library to the maximum (obviously!).  
Having all the items checked out on my card means that I can track due dates on-line.
I had to stop and think, seriously, do I have THAT many items out????  it is possible?
When the librarian said limit reached, I had just moments earlier returned a huge bag of items that had not yet been entered into the system as "returned".
Now I'm back home....
I just checked my account on-line, and joy of joys, I'm down to 79 items!
Oops, gotta run, I'm headed back to the library!!

What To Do With All That Halloween Candy?

This has nothing to do with homeschooling, but everything with being resourceful.

I let my kids have their candy for about a week.  They can eat some after lunch and dinner for dessert.  I'm sure they sneak some for "snacks".  Whatever, it's Halloween, and we don't have issues with diabetes or allergies or anything, so I figure it is the one week they get free reign on the candy.

Then, I take all the candy.  My husband will often offer money for it, but he's much more generous than I am, I just take it!  It goes into the Family Candy Bank.

First, I take all the Hershey's and M&Ms and put them in a bag for cookie baking.

Then, I take all the yummy chocolate bars (like Snicker's, Milky Ways, Kit Kats, Twix, etc) and put them in the freezer.  They are perfect to chop up and put on ice cream for special treats or making your own Blizzards at home!

Then, all the sugary stuff (Laffy Taffys, licorice, Nerds, suckers, etc.) goes into the Family Candy Jar.

Also take a moment to think of special people in your life who LOVE a certain kind of candy.  We had a piano teacher who loved Butterfingers, and it was fun to bring her one each week - for months!  Stash a bag in the fridge with his/her name on it, and take one every time you see that person.  You can get rid of a lot of candy this way!

Finally, some other random items (bags of chips, cookies, Raisins, sometimes the Reese's, etc.) go into the snack cupboard for exciting surprises in the lunch box.

Hey guys, that about covers all the candy.   Some can go to Dad's office, some goes straight to Mom's hips, and I suppose some of it does get thrown away - but Very Little gets wasted!

Don't Throw Out The Halloween Candy!!